Chelsea's end-of-season showdown with Newcastle United couldn't have felt more like an end-of-season showdown if it tried.
On a beautiful day at Stamford Bridge, filled with glorious sunshine, there was a feeling that it might well be the last game for a whole host of players at Chelsea. Not only that, but it would be Frank Lampard's last match at the club after he took the interim head coach role last month.
"Super, super Frank" chants could be heard at various points in the game, that finished 1-1, and once the match was over. The players and staff did their annual lap of honour. It's been an absolutely torrid season for Chelsea as a club – an absolute mess, to be quite honest – but the supporters stuck around at the end to show their appreciation.
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Their appreciation towards a lot of the players wasn't just for the season either because there are a few within that squad who had probably, or maybe, played their final match. The likes of Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cesar Azpilicueta, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic are all heavily linked with moves away in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Chelsea are set to offload – or at least try to offload – a big group of players in what is expected to be a massive clear out of the squad ahead of a crucial 2023/24 season. In an ideal world, those who are deemed not part of the club's plans will be sold early on in the summer to try and get some clarity on the situation as early as possible. And, of course, to give incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino a clear idea of what he has to work with in pre-season.
It's now a matter of 'when' and not 'if' Pochettino will be appointed. It's understood the Argentine has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea to become the new first-team head coach and take over from Lampard. An official announcement from the club could well happening the next few days now the season has concluded.
After what happened during and after the game against Newcastle, Pochettino could well have an idea of who might be leaving the club in the coming months. Loftus-Cheek's substitution was quite telling. Coming off on the hour-mark for Carney Chukwuemeka, Loftus-Cheek took a second to show his appreciation to the Chelsea supporters by applauding all ends of Stamford Bridge and the gesture was repeated back to him.
Chants of "Ruben" rang around the vast majority of the 40,000-plus in the stadium. It seemed like a farewell and with AC Milan calling, it could well be over for the 27-year-old at the club he has been at since the age of eight.
After the game, a lot of eyes were on Mount. Would he wave to the Chelsea supporters? Is it over for the England international at Stamford Bridge? These questions, unfortunately, cannot be definitively answered from his actions post-match.
Mount, who wasn't named in the squad as he continues his recovery from injury, took to the pitch after the game alongside his Chelsea teammates to thank the supporters. He looked somewhat emotional and appeared to be taking in what was happening. Ben Chilwell, his close friend, put his arm around Mount, almost to comfort the midfielder.
Mendy was waving at some supporters, too, but at this stage – we should add – it's unclear whether they are gestures to say goodbye. However, the goalkeeper is strongly linked with a move away from Chelsea in the summer with the club seeking out alternatives to both him and Kepa.
Pochettino, who has already held meetings with those at Chelsea about the club's transfer strategy this summer, should get the opportunity to meet his new players over the coming weeks. Before that, though, there will be a lot of meetings behind the scenes about players' future over the next few weeks, even though the summer transfer window doesn't officially open until July.
The season is done. A new chapter awaits. It can't get any worse, can it?
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